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The Department for Communities and Local Government^[1] (CLG) is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England, since May 2006.^[1] The department originated in 2001 as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

There are corresponding departments in the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, responsible for communities and local government in their respective jurisdictions.

[edit] Background

CLG was formed in July 2001 as part of the Cabinet Office with the title Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Prescott. In May 2002 the ODPM became a separate department after absorbing the Local Government and Regions portfolios from the defunct Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. During the 5 May 2006 reshuffle of Blair's government, it was renamed and Ruth Kelly became Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Deputy Prime Minister became a minister without portfolio supported by a Deputy Prime Minister's Office. Hazel Blears was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 28 June 2007. Following her resignation on the eve of the 2009 European elections, The Rt Hon. John Denham, MP was appointed as Secretary of State on 5 June 2009.

[edit] Functions

CLG is responsible for largely the same areas listed on the ODPM website (from June 2005). They are:

On its creation it also assumed the community policy function of the Home Office and has since established the 'Commission on Integration and Cohesion', and the now separate Government Equalities Office.

In January 2007, Ruth Kelly announced proposals to bring together the delivery functions of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and parts of Communities and Local Government to form a new unified housing and regeneration agency, the Homes and Communities Agency (initially announced as "Communities England"), which became operational in December 2008. This also includes the Academy for Sustainable Communities and Advisory team for large applications. After a rationalisation of its property portfolio, the Department is now headquartered at Eland House, with a few staff remaining in Ashdown House nearby, who will completely vacate that building during 2009. There are also a small number of staff in other locations in England, notably Hemel Hempstead, Brighton and Bristol.